ILN EP 60: Philippa Foot

Published: Sept. 14, 2018, 11 p.m.

Pat was feeling virtuous so Ben schools him on the ethical theory of British philosopher/schoolmarm Philippa Foot. As the granddaughter of US President Grover Cleveland (true story), Foot knew a thing or two about what it is to be virtuous and all but single handedly revived the long lost tradition of virtue ethics pioneered by Aristotle over 2000 years ago. By concentrating on what makes a good person rather than a good action, her approach was a response to pedantic legal eagle virgins like Kant or Spike Lee who insist on "doing the right thing."